Details of the Senate bill

The bipartisan budget deal passed by the US Senate would undo most of the $US600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts taking effect automatically.

The House plans to take up the measure next, possibly to make revisions. Here are the major provisions of the Senate bill:

Income Taxes

While cancelling a rise in income tax rates for most payers, it would raise rates on individuals above $US400,000 and married couples above $US450,000. That’s double the individual threshold Obama campaigned on, and 80 per cent higher than his preferred level for married couples.

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The top income tax rate would rise to 39.6 per cent from 35 per cent. The top rates on capital gains and dividends would increase to 23.8 per cent, from 15 per cent, starting at the same income thresholds. The new rate includes a 3.8 per cent tax that starts today on top earners.

Limits on personal exemptions and itemised deductions for top earners that had been phased out will return for individuals starting at $US250,000 and married couples starting at $US300,000.

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The alternative minimum tax would be permanently revised to prevent it from expanding to more households.

Estate Taxes

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Estates would receive a more-than $US5 million exemption and 40 per cent top tax rate, splitting the difference on rates sought by Republicans and Democrats. The exemption would be indexed for inflation.

Unemployment Benefits

Expanded unemployment benefits would be continued for a year, and tax breaks for low-income families would be extended. That would cost $US30 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, and wouldn’t be offset with spending cuts.

Spending Reductions

The automatic federal spending reductions set to start with the new year would be delayed until March. Half of the $US24 billion cost of delaying the cuts would be covered by allowing 401(k) retirement account holders to convert some of their balances into Roth-style accounts that can be tapped tax-free in retirement, said a Senate aide familiar with the talks.

The change would raise revenue because people who do such conversions pay income taxes up front. The conversions aren’t currently allowed in 401(k) plans, the aide said.

The other half of the spending cuts would be prevented through replacement spending cuts, half in defense and half in non-defense programs, said Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat.

Tax Breaks

Miscellaneous tax breaks would continue through 2013, including benefits for corporate research, multinational companies’ overseas financing operations and wind energy. Many of those breaks had expired at the end of 2011. Companies would get 50 per cent bonus depreciation.

Payroll Taxes

The agreement wouldn’t avert all of the tax increases set to take effect this year. A two-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax has expired and isn’t part of the deal. That will make paychecks smaller in 2013; someone earning $US50,000 and being paid twice a month will lose $41.67 per paycheck. The payroll tax cut’s expiration will end transfers from the general fund to Social Security to cover its cost.

Health-Care Provisions

Tax increases on top earners’ wages and unearned income such as capital gains will take effect as a result of the 2010 health-care law. The Senate-passed bill would prevent a cut in Medicare physician payments in 2013.

Miscellaneous

The bill would provide equal tax treatment of commuter transit and parking benefits, and would extend most farm subsidies until the end of September.

IRS Guidance

The Internal Revenue Service told employers late yesterday to withhold taxes from paychecks assuming that lapsing tax cuts would expire as scheduled and said it would issue updated tables if Congress passes an extension.

Employers should implement the higher withholding by February 15, the IRS said in a statement issued 12 minutes before midnight.